Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2018
218. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will be reporting on the national obesity plan as per the action point in Ten Steps Forward to report annually on the plan; if so, when; if a report card will be produced on the progress to date in view of the fact that the report is over a year old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2626/18]
View answer220. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of recommendation 2.1 of the national obesity plan; if the terms of reference for the establishment of a working group to develop a set of guidelines on the built environment have been drafted; the stage the drafting and setting up of this group is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2628/18]
View answer221. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if, as per recommendation 2.4 of the national obesity plan, his officials have begun preparatory work for making a submission for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s review of the children’s communication code on advertising of energy-dense food and drinks when it is ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2629/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 218, 220 and 221 together.
My Department has established an Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group. The national Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) - under the Chair of my Department - is comprised of representatives from a range of Government Departments and Agencies including the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
The Terms of Reference of this group include to:
- Promote, develop and support action on the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) across all relevant Government Departments, agencies; and sectors, and
- Identify processes for engaging with networks of stakeholders.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the OPIOG held its inaugural meeting on the 19 October 2017 with further meetings to be arranged at agreed intervals for the purposes of providing oversight to the implementation of the OPAP. The next meeting of the OPIOG is expected in February.
At its inaugural meeting the OPIOG noted a progress report on the implementation of the OPAP. A similar update on progress with implementation was provided to the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question Ref 37442/17 on the 11 of September 2017. My Department can provide the Deputy with a copy of this Parliamentary Question reply if required.
Both recommendations 2.1 and 2.4 of the OPAP will be progressed within the framework of the work of the OPIOG. The latter recommendation on making a submission on the Children's Communication Code on advertising of energy dense food and drinks is set within the context of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's review of the code. My Department has been informed that this review will commence later this year.
With respect to recommendation 2.1, at its inaugural meeting the OPOIG agreed to establish two sub-groups for Reformulation and Healthy Eating. The question of other sub-groups, including one for the built environment, will be reviewed by the group on an on-going basis. In line with Actions 31 and 59 of the National Physical Activity Plan, which commit to developing guidelines and support materials for those working in developing the built environment in order to promote the importance of physical activity (31), and to develop a programme of on-going stakeholder communication and engagement to ensure delivery of the Plan (59), it is intended to hold a Stakeholder Forum in 2018. The planned Forum will focus on the theme of the Built Environment.
